Improvement in cheese-presses



UNrrnn WILLIAM H. STEVENS, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA.

IM PROVEM ENT IN CH EESE-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,475, dated November 6, 1866.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, 'WILLIAM H. STEVENS, of Winona, in the county of Winona and State of Y Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Cheese-Presses; andI do hereby declare that the following is a fulL'clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central section of my improved press, the section through the piston being taken in the line x, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a bottom or under-side view oi' the cover or piston.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish a' cheese-press convenient, durable, not liable to get out of order, and especially adapted for use in cheese-factories, or where large numbers of cheeses are made; and it consists of a cylindrical atmospheric press, constructed and operated as hereinafter more fully described.

Ais the bottom, and B the sides, of the press. The sides and bottom may be joined or connected in any convenient manner, care being taken to make the joint air-tight; and to secure this result the joint should be packed with a rubber packing, C, or its equivalent, as represented in Fig. 1.

D is a hole through the side of the press, just above the bottom or stationaryT head A, for drawing off the whey. In this hole should be placed a stop-cock.

The cover or movable head E should be made of such a size as to exactly t into the cylinder; and to insure its being air-tight it should be furnished with rubber or other elastic packing H. This packing should be placed in a groove formed around the edge of the movable head or piston E, as shown in Fig. 1.

F is a hole through the piston E, in which should be placed a short pipe furnished with a stop-cock.

- Strengthening-pieces G may be placed on the lower side of the piston E, to guard against the warping of said piston. These pieces may be of such a length as to reach across the piston, as shown in Fig. 2, or they may be of such a length as to pass into the hoop or moldl I, in which the curd is placed for pressing. This latter construction I prefer.

There should also be attached to the piston E guards or guides L, (represented in red in the drawings,) to prevent the'said piston from tipping in its ascent or descent, and thus admitting the air. These brackets or guides L may be attached to either the upper or under side of the piston E, as may be desired 5 but when attached to theunder side, care must be taken to make them of such a size that sides B of the press forthe whey when pressed out of the curd.

J is a head fitting into the hoop or' mold I,

against which the. piston E acts in pressing l the curd.

The press may be made of wood, thev sides being staves firmly hooped 5 or it may be made of metal. t

By this invention the cheese is pressed in a vacuum. This forces the air out of the curd, and makes the cheese more compact than when pressed in the ordinary manner. The cheese is also without the air-cells, which turnish such convenient lurking-places for insects, skippers, Src., and in which molding', souring, fermentation, Snc., always begin.

In the ordinary process the pressure is frequentl y applied too suddenly, causing the whey to run ofi' too richv or milky 5 but by my process the pressure cannot be otherwise applied than gradually, thus preventing waste and securing a large yield.

In using my improved press, the curd is placed in the hoop I in the ordinary way. The hoop and curd are then placed in the cylinder, and the cover .I and piston E placed upon it, as represented in Fig. l. The stopcock in the hole C is then turned so as to prevent the entrance of air through said hole C. An air-pump is then connected to the short pipe in the hole F, and the air within the press pumped out. This forces the piston E and cover J down upon the curd. When the requisite amount of pressure has been ob- Iclaini as new and desire-to secure by Lettained, the stop-cock in the pipe in the hole ters Patent- F is turned, and the pump disconnected from Acylindrical atmospheric cheese-press, collthe press. The press may then be set aside structed and operated substantially as deund another operated upon. scribed, and for the purpose set forth.

By this invention much less space is required for carrying on the manufacture of! WILLIAM H' STEVENS' cheese, as the Whole system of levers, Weights, Witnesses: und screws is done :may with, one air-pump N. B. STEVENS, being sufficient for anextensive factory. H. C. BOLAM. 

